To protect cancer patients from COVID-19 exposure, prioritization strategies are being
implemented at global level. Measures include use of tele-health services, deferring
elective surgeries, delaying non life-saving therapies, interrupting maintenance and
supportive care regimens and suspending screening and regular follow-up visits.Nonetheless,
the risk of infection may not always outweigh oncology treatment benefit. Lives of
most oncology patients depend on their ability to receive medical, surgical and radiotherapy
care. Postponing screening,follow-up and radical surgeries increase patients' risk
of developing metastatic disease.A viral pandemic lasts long time and exhibits seasonal
and geographical variations. Though vaccines will be available only in the 2021, a
global, aggressive, all-embracing and protracted slowdown of oncologic activities
will severely jeopardize patients' outcomes.A present international oncologists' panel,
ECPC and FAVO, strongly suggest that Hospital measures in a specific geographical
area/Nation should be in line with the local epidemic, and restrictions adopted should
be adapted and stratified over time.
